Church The Episcopal Church Ordination 1958 Name Frank Cerveny | In office 1974 — 1992 See Florida Consecration May 23, 1974 | |
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Predecessor Edward Hamilton West 1956-1974 Successor Stephen Hays Jecko 1993-2004 Born June 4, 1933 (age 90)
Ludlow, Massachusetts ( 1933-06-04 ) | ||
The Right Reverend Frank Stanley Cerveny (born (1933-06-04)June 4, 1933) was the sixth bishop of the Diocese of Florida and the 699th bishop in the Episcopal Church in the United States of America, a province of the Anglican Communion.
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Early years
Frank Cerveny was born in Ludlow, Massachusetts in the Springfield, Massachusetts metropolitan area and grew up during the depression. He graduated from Trinity College in 1955 with a B.A., then earned a Master of Divinity from the General Theological Seminary in 1958. Cerveny has been awarded four honorary doctorates.
His first parish was in Miami, Florida at Church of the Resurrection, where he was ordained as a priest in December, 1958. Next, Reverend Cerveny served on the staff of Trinity Church in New York City for several years. He married Emmy Thomas Pettway on November 1, 1961 and they had three children. He became rector of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Jackson, Tennessee in the Fall of 1963, then led St. John's Episcopal Church in Knoxville, Tennessee beginning in 1969.
Rev. Cerveny was called to Jacksonville, Florida in July, 1972 and served as Dean at St. John’s Cathedral. He was elected bishop Coadjutor on February 23, 1974 and consecrated on May 23, 1974 as the 6th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Florida.
Episcopacy
During his 18 years as bishop, membership in the Diocese grew, a site for a new diocean camp was acquired near Live Oak, Florida, Camp Weed was constructed, as was a conference center (which was named in Cerveny's honor). The Episcopal Foundation was established and two programs were begun to help Cuban Episcopalians: Partners in Mission and Companion Diocese relationships. Christian Healing Ministries, created by Doctors Francis and Judith MacNutt in 1981, was embraced by Bishop Cerveny and relocated to Jacksonville, where their international outreach gave hope and comfort to people throughout the world.
Bishop Cerveny served as a member on the National Board for Theological Education; chairmanships included: the Presiding Bishop's Select Committee, Deans and Bishops Committee, and the Environmental Stewardship Team. He was a Trustee for the University of the South, an official seminary of the Episcopal Church, USA.
In 1992, he retired as bishop and joined the Church Pension Group (CPG) in New York City as Executive Vice President. CPG provides insurance & financial services to Episcopal churches & institutions and their clergy & lay employees in the United States. He also served as President of the Compass Rose Society.
Bishop Cerveny returned to Jacksonville in 1999 and served as clerical trustee of the Jessie Ball duPont Fund from 1998 until the organization's rules required that he retire at age 70. He then became a trustee of the Community Foundation in Jacksonville. He and his wife reside on the St. Johns River in Ortega.